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Despite working in a bar for well over a year during my University days, I wasn't all that sure what either of these spirits were, so I consulted my 'go-to' resource Wikipedia for further details:
Cointreau: "is a brand of triple sec liqueur, and is produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, a suburb of Angers, France." (For more See HERE)
Grand Marnier: "is a liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of true cognacs and distilled essence of bitter orange. Grand Marnier is 40% alcohol (80 proof)." (For more See HERE)
Both these bars came in the standard 70.0g Galler filled bar size which were split in to the four over sized chunked blocks. As you will see in my photos below, both were up to the usual impeccable Galler presentation standards, with the fillings and outer chocolates nicely contrasting in colour tones to make some impactful looking products.
Kcal 498 Fat 30.9g Fat(sats) 18.5g Carbs 47.1g (per 100.0g)"White chocolate with Cointreau filling"
This chocolate created a great aesthetic impact with it's crisp looking outer chocolate and plentiful dark coloured filling. The exterior white chocolate that coated the inner truffle centres was everything I was expecting it to be, and was just as high in quality as all the other Galler white chocolate bars I have experienced before. It was thick and soft in melt, and released the most gorgeous double cream like flavours as soon as it entered the mouth. During the latter stages of the melt the white chocolate introduced a brief flirtation of vanilla, though it had an abrupt end as the milk chocolate boozie filling well and truly came to the party. The richer tasting centre had stronger cocoa inclinations, however it was the Cointreau flavours that really took hold of the taste. The alcohol flavours were finely balanced and were neither too strong or too weak for my liking. The rest of my family commented at how they liked the slight warmth the Cointreau filling brought to the mouth and how it left a long lasting alcohol note in the mouth.
8.6 out of 10
Kcal 483 Fat 27.7g Fat(sats) 17.4g Carbs 51.8g (per 100.0g)"Dark chocolate with Grand Marnier filling"
I have to say I have never tried Grand Marnier in my lifetime so it was lucky I had a few reinforcements at hand to help me judge this one. If I start with the outer dark chocolate, what more can I say about Galler's capabilities in this area!? Once again the 60% recipe was totally delicious and provided a gloriously rich set of smokey cocoa flavours as soon as it entered my mouth. The melt as ever was utterly divine, slowly melting away to reveal a spongier, lighter textured centre to the moister truffle like filling of the Cointreau bar above. Indeed, the Grand Marnier filling had more of fondant feel about it, though it wasn't as sugary or grainy feeling as the likes of anything like Fry's etc. Taste wise some members of my family commented that it wasn't boozie enough for them, however the lack of alcoholic kick worried me very little and I just enjoyed the zesty hints of orange that were on offer. The aftertaste wasn't as long or as rich as the Cointreau, but personally speaking I enjoyed the taste just as much.
8.3 out of 10
Overall these alcohol themed bars were every bit as good as the other options I have tried from Galler's filled bars range, and I would happily recommend either to anyone that enjoys the two spirits that have been focused on today. Compared to some other manufacturers (I'm looking directly at you Hotel Chocolat!!) the alcohol content and effect on the taste was just about right for my liking. Especially in the Cointreau bar, all members of my family agreed that the influence the spirit had on the chocolate was just about spot on, the Grand Marnier probably could have done with a little bit of an extra alcohol kick to it, but the juicy orange flavours were delicious nonetheless and complimented the dark chocolate exterior quite wonderfully. If you enjoy alcohol flavoured chocolates then these are both very worthy of a look at.
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30 comments:
I was aware of what cointreau was but I hadn't ever heard of the other one before. I do sort of fancy trying an organe liqueur chocolate now you mention it though. It might offer something a little different to just a plainer orange flavoured one.
My Mum loves Grand Marnier. Ive never seen the attraction of it personally but if I was to buy here some chocolates now I would have to consider getting her a bar of that to feed her obsession.
What made you decide to do both of them in the one review? Im not complaining or anything.
Rxxx
Excellent reviews Jim. Like I said to you yesterday I'm not interested by alcohol flavoured chocolates that much but I still love reading what you have to say about them. If your not a big fan of them yourself these are doing to have to be have been very good for you to rate them so highly. Thanks.
I still don't like the wrappers that much but I do see what you mean about the chocolate always looking well class.
Their white chocolates look very nice with the dark fillings IMO.
Yuck why would anyone choose to spoil decent chocolate with cheap tasting spirits like these. Cointreau is for dinosaurs.
Good stuff, I do learn something new every day from this site. Lol I didn't have the foggiest what either of these two spirits were all about. Cheer for the extra information about them, Wikipedia saves your life doesn't it :-)
Grand marnier is gorgeous I cant believe you had never heard of it. Seriosuly you should try the drink asap, it is what I always drink when I go out now. I do swap my drinks around but I always have my fair share of them. Brill reviews sweetie x
Dx
Geeze Jim you have either been very generous with your scoring of things this week or you have been trying some nice tasting chocolates.
Nothing all week has got below an 8!!! I trust they must just be uber good lol.
I really fancy the GM one. It looks/sounds exactly my sort of chocolate. I get what you mean about their not being any fondant chocolates apart from Frys. I dont like the chocolate they use with Frys so options for me are rather limited. One day I will give this a try Ive promised myself now.
2 for 1 I like it.
Before I saw this I would have told you I was more interested in their white chocolates vs their dark but now this grand marnier one has me thinking differently. If you offered me the choice of trying one of them I think I would go for the orangey one now.
Ahhhh there are too many chocolates I want to try I have to stop reading your site right now :( I was reading your site during my lunch break the other day and your Lindt review made the penguin bar in my lunch box seem all the more crappy. You really seem to know and be able to appreciate fine chocolate. I find it so unfair you get to try so many remarkable things.
Jim you always rate Galler chocolate so highly its getting hard to know which ones you think are the best out of them all.
If you had to choose one that you think has been the best so far which would it be and why?
It is a major failing of mine that I am still yet to try any chocolates from Galler. Im awfully confused what of theirs to try out first now. Everything you seem to review from these seems to be of the highest quality whether it be dark, white or milk chocolate. At least I have a wide range to choose from and not just a few good ones.
I love the clearness of your pictures and being able to see the inside of the chocolate bars? How do you get them all looking the same? Do you have a studio to do all these in?
I loved the reviews mate but seriously you have got to stop giving away such high scores. I keep having to add things to my list of chocolates that I have to buy. Its getting hellaciously long at the moment lol. Thanks again.
Are you sure these are as good as you say or are you just being nice about Galler because they send you them for free? LOL Im only playing with you.
I dont like booze of any sort so I wouldn't ever have these. More dark chocolate again ewwwwwwww.
Those chunks look really big still. Have you asked them why they make them so big? They must be like 15g each if they come split in to 4. That is way to big when you compare it to something like a cadburys bar which is 40g split in to 6.
Oh great just another two more chocolates I want to try after the other four this week already. Lol I totally see what Duncan is talking about I will have to stop looking on here soon.
If you offered my a drink of either of these two I would choose the cointreau. If we are talking chocolate on the other hand I more fancy the orange one I think.
Brilliant reviews again Jim thank you for covering off another from my list I provided you with.
Do you have any clue when or if you are planning to do one of the biscuit type they make. It is the one bar of theirs I am desperate to hear how good it is. Im sitting on ordering one of them (if its good lol) and also a few others.
Apologies again for saying this Jim but it is the prices of these that really put me off buying any of these chocolates. As good as you make them sound it is very hard justifying paying nearly £3 for just one of these single chocolate bars.
If I was rich I wouldn't think it was an issue because they sound very tasty.
Lol it made me laugh that you have seen both of these spirits for fine tasting chocolates. When I read the top bit I was instantly reminded of all the didgy cocktails we used to make during my university days. I think a fair few of them included cointreau because no one liked it on it's own :)
Do they make a whisky flavoured choc? My dad loves them.
I think I must seriously think about trying some Galler, despite the price lol. Even if its just one bar!
Neither of these appeal to me as I just don't get on with alcoholic fillings, although the Grand Marnier one sounds abit better if it was more orange than alcoholic!
I finally found an orange and peppermint Frys the other day, that sweet shop I showed you a while back. They're the only place around about I can find who stocks those two now grrr. They were delicious :)
Hi Jim thank you for the review. I've never tried any Galler chocolates but I have taken a look at some of your write up ;) They always get really high ratings from you, you must really think a lot of them considering you try so many chocolates.
Great photos Jim, they've made me hungry for some chocolate now hehe.
They both sound great and just the sort of thing I'd like, as I don't like strong alcohol chocolates. (and the weak ones usually taste artificial).
The dark grand marnier especially sounds fantastic.
I have to agree with Richard about the cost though..£3 is a lot. Galler should offer people samples so they know if they're worth the price.
@Alan - that's reminded me to have a look for the Fry's bars when I'm next out. They're always a treat.
Top review and photos today Jim. You can really see the detail of the inner gubbins and everything :)
These are definitely some of the best looking bars I've seen. I'm really going to have to put in a galler order one of these days
@Anonymous person I just took a look at the website and oddly they don't seem to have a whisky chocolate in their repetoire. It was one of the first things I thought of aswell its a shame they dont do one, I would really fancy that.
Omg Jim have you seen this ...
http://www.talkingretail.com/products/product-news/new-kit-kat-senses-caramel-cream/
MEGA WANTS.
Everybody
Hi All,
Thank you all the nice words about my review and photos today. They are all very much appreciated, thanks ever so much. My contacts of Galler have been already been checking out your feedback from the reviews today. They have already sent across another four bars this week that you have all suggested - please keep the requests coming :D it will keep me busy for the forseeable future if you do.
On to your questions ...
Rachel - I just ended up sharing and eating them both at the same time I saw no reason not to stick them in the same write up. I think it worked out ok.
Alex - I think the wrappers do the job nicely. I personally think they look very premium.
Golden - Indeed Wikipedia is a lifesaver for me :D I would be lost without it.
Daisy - I still haven't given it a go. Perhaps tonight :D I could do with a drink .... its been a bit of a long day haha.
Justin - I have been very lucky this week and just been reviewing some realy high quality stuff.
Emma - Do remember that I have to write up all the reviews ;) It's not all just chocolate eating.
Tricky - Thats a hard one. The Ballontin of Pralines selection box is one that sticks out in my mind though. It was exceptional.
Anon - A studio? Haha hardly! I tell you what, one day I will do a behind the scenes look at how I put these reviews together. Until then I will keep a bit of mystery behind it all.
Mysterio - You better be joking lad :D
James - I haven't asked them why they segregate their chocolate like that? its just the way it comes I'm afraid. I agree they could do with a least being half the size they are at the moment.
Nigel - Thank your for all your requests you are keeping me busy haha! I think you might want to check out the site on Monday ;)
Richard - Don't worry I repeat myself often enough. I get the point you are making about the price, but if you are really selective I genuinely think that some of their range more than justifies the premium price tag.
Anon - I got an answer from Galler themselves about whether they have a whisky one ... here is what they said ...
"I’m afraid we don’t do one.
We do have a Cognac bar but obviously brandy is fruit based rather than grain based like whisky"
Alan - Given that I know you appreciate your good chocolates I would suggest you get a move on and try some of these out chap. Give one of their praline chocolates a try, I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed with it.
Phil - I do like your sampling idea, I have actually seen that they do a small tasting selection like we were talking about for Lindt yesterday. If you are interested in trying a few of the flavours they have in their range that might be a really sensible place to start with them.
Lena - No I hadn't seen that. Thanks for the heads up I will make sure I include it in my 7Days of Chocolate Reviews post this weekend.
Thanks for the comments today people. Galler are one of the companies that really take note of your feedbake so be sure to leave your thoughts if you ever have any musings regardging my reviews. One more review and then we have the weekend! Bring it on I say!!!!
JIM
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